H.—l

2

Registration op New Rules. 6. Registration of a complete amendment of rules— i.e., of a complete set of new rules—was made in respect of the under-mentioned branches : — M.U.1.0.0.P. —Masterton, Rose of Sharon, Antipodean, and Unity Lodges (Wellington District). A.O.F. —Court Raleigh (Taranaki District) and Court Concord (Nelson District). Registbation of Paetial Amendment op Rules. 7. Registration of a partial amendment of rules was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and,branches : — M.tJ.1.0.0.F. —Bketahuna Lodge (Wellington District), North Westland District, Ashley District, City of Christchurch Lodge (North Canterbury District), Waitahuna Lodge (Otago District), and Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge (Invercargill District). N.l.O.O.F.—Auckland Provincial District. A.O.F. —Wellington District (twice), Canterbury United District. U.A.O.D. —District Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand, Grand Lodge of Canterbury District, and Otago Lodge. P.A.F.S.A.—Grand Council of New Zealand. I.S.S. —New Zealand Friendly Societies' Mutual Fidelity Guarantee Association, and Opotiki Gospel Temperance and Mutual Improvement Society. Statistics poe 1895. 8. The number of lodges* whose returns are tabulated is 374, and of central bodies 33, distributed according to orders, thus :—

9. In Tables 1., V., and VI., attached to this report, the respective district totals include the funds of the central bodies. 10. In the final column of Table I. is entered the average surplus or deficiency per member, as shown at the last valuation of the society. 11. In the monetary tables, except the first, shillings and pence have been omitted, there being no apparent advantage in publishing the values more accurately than as shown by the nearest pound. 12. The number of members of these lodges at the end of the year was 30,905. 13. The following balance-sheet gives their total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1895: — Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 522,339 Investments at interest .. .. .. 429,625 Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c. .. 58,780 Value of land and buildings .. .. .. 116,478 Cash not bearing interest .. .. .. 23,402 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 10,012 Other assets .. .. .. .. 1^602 £581,119 £581,119 14. The following summary shows the disposition of the various investments at interest, together with the respective average rates per cent. : —

15. Averages and percentages deduced from the tabulated returns for the years 1881-95 are given in Appendix I. 16. Information as to the forms kept in the Registry Office for the convenience of societies, and sent free on application, is to be found in Appendix IV.

* The word " lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms " court," " tent," &c, as used in the various Orders.

Society. I Central Bodies. Lodges. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. tf.U.I.O.O.P. :.o.o.f. .. .. 3.U.O.O.F. i.O.F. LO.S. 15 1 1 1 8 130 23 2 1 101 1 U.A.O.D. .. I.O.E. S.D.T. H.A.G.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. E.E.B.S... 2 2 1 1 1 47 38 11 12 11 2

Mode of Investment. Amount. Kate per Cent. On deposit with the Post-Office Savings-Bank On deposit with other banks On mortgage of freehold property In Government and municipal debentures Other investments £ 29,762 13,928 54,102 311,623 9,923 10,292 429,625 3-5 8'0 4-0 6-9 5-5 6-0 429,625 6'1